More about @ the beach

Hello everyone!

During my last post, I told you that a small business has evolved from my love for decorating. The business really began about 6-7 years ago when we were building our beach house. We were on a very tight budget and there was very little money for furniture, so I began looking for vintage furniture pieces in need of a little work. I searched auctions, estate sales and local thrift stores shopping for beds, armoires, dressers, tables, chairs that I could paint to give a relaxed coastal cottage look. It took awhile to find everything we needed to fill the house, but once it was move in day, we had everything we needed to make it livable.  I really loved the way the furniture looked!  I was hooked! I kept my eyes open for furniture, even though the beach house was complete and I kept finding things that needed to be rescued!

 That is basically how the business began. I was looking for something to do on a part time basis, my oldest two children were getting close to graduating from high school and my younger two were in elementary school.  I began to have time while they were at school to work on some of the rescued pieces. I painted, shopped and began looking for a space to rent to start the business.

At first, I rented a small space along the coast to give it a try. It went well until the end of my first year, I think it had a lot to do with the economy, but I got a little worried and pulled my things from that space and decided to wait until things got better. A few months later I had the opportunity to go into a space with my sister in law and a friend splitting the rent three ways. That went really well, but I felt like I took the space over because I had so much inventory....

 Near the end of that year, I got the opportunity to open my own space with the same business featuring my painted furniture and accessories and I decided to give it a try. That is how" @ the beach" began!

                                                     

My husband had a small movable building built for me. The guys who built it helped us move it to where it is located today." @ the beach is located in front of "Secret Treasures Antiques and Collectibles" in Cedar Point N.C.  I just celebrated my 1 year anniversary in the new space last month. 

                                            1 year ago, after the move


Well, that is pretty much the story.  I'm gonna go for now, there are lots of things out in the garage that need a little coastal updating.  If you are in the area, please stop by to see us. We would love to meet you.

Have a great week!
Debbi

 Check back soon, I am going to share some of the original pieces I recreated for the beach house:)